By Kirk Deeter

I've been paying a lot of attention lately to colors on flies and using fluorescent "hot spots"; focusing more on how fish see flies underwater than how they look in my hands above the surface. We know, for example that certain colors dissipate in deeper water due to the decrease in light penetration. The deeper you go, the grayer it gets.

While we can debate whether fly colors really matter much compared to other factors like size, profile, and so forth, I don't think it hurts to add a little eye-grabbing detail, particularly when you're fishing attractor patterns, and especially when you're fishing nymphs in deeper runs when the water is off-color. As a rule of thumb, I think it's best to mimic natural bugs as closely as possible when you know fish are keyed on a specific food source. But when you're prospecting, any and all "attention getters" are worth a shot.

This new Spectrum Response U/V spray is distributed by Westwater Products, and it's designed to make colors pop on your flies. Squirt it on a surface like fur or feathers and it causes those materials to absorb radiation in the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and re-emit light in the ultraviolet regions of the spectrum. In simplest terms, it makes flies appear brighter when the water is darker. The theory is pretty simple: Fish sees fly better; fish is more apt to eat said fly.

The 2-ounce spray bottle costs $19.95, and I'm told a 1-ounce bottle will soon be available for $12.95. The spray is non-toxic and hydrophobic, meaning it doesn't wash off of treated surfaces (so you want to be careful not to spray your tippet if you don't want that to shine also). It doesn't involve resins that will gum up your flies. One tube of spray goes a long way; it only takes a squirt or two to treat a fly.

If you're looking for an advantage but you're not willing to go so far as to scent your flies (that would be a low-down dirty trick, after all), this might be $20 well spent. Then again, it might not be what you're after. But experimenting with different flies (sprayed or not), different materials (fluorescent fibers or not), and different water conditions would be a lot of fun, and I suspect the results would change the way a lot of anglers think about colors on their bugs (and lures, for that matter).

Comments (9)

from buckhunter wrote 42 weeks 4 days ago

For years UV has been a subject of debate among deer hunters. Studies show that the human eye filters 99% of UV light which enters the eye. This filter does not exist in the eye of a whitetail deer. With no filter, deer can see the ultraviolet light better in low light conditions. There is some advantage to reducing UV light on your hunting clothes to stay concealed.

I like the idea of enhancing UV as an attractant but my question is this, do trout see UV like deer, or not see UV like humans?

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from Rhythm Rider wrote 42 weeks 4 days ago

In the voice of Cousin Eddie from Christmas Vacation:

"Don't go puttin' none of that stuff on my fly Clark.....my fly just won't look right."

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from B Mogren wrote 42 weeks 4 days ago

Without appearing overly resistant to change or stuck in the past, in my view this product (while tehnologically innovative)is for those who place the only value of going fishing on numbers. To be a good all around fisherman one needs knowledge of habitat, weather, food sources which are among the many factors which enhance knowledge of fish and their habits as well as the environment we live in. Why not just use an underwater camera to locate fish and then employ a gill net...saves time and requires limited knowledge and skill.

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from buckhunter wrote 42 weeks 3 days ago

Walleyes have large retinas and their eyes glow at night, similar to whitetail deer. Whitetail are UV sensitive or can recognize UV light in low light conditions. UV light is the part of the spectrum not visible to the human eye. I can only guess walleye are also UV sensitive. In which case this may be good for walleye fishing.

This is only a guess. I am sure there are others who know more about this than I do.

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from kirkdeeter wrote 42 weeks 3 days ago

buck, I'm looking into your questions, because I don't know. I'll be back on those.

B. Mogren, that's a completely fair and reasonable question to ask, and I'm not sure there really is an answer other than to say, if it's within the rules, it's up to the individual angler. I mean... the real purist will tell you that a fly made of foam isn't really a fly. Do you need aircraft-grade graphite to make a rod to cast that fly? Where does it stop? The base appeal of fly fishing is using fairly primitive tools to trick instinct, but that's evolved into quite the science indeed.

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from B Mogren wrote 42 weeks 3 days ago

Kirk...I know and agree wholeheartedly. I do own graphite rods although I also own and actually prefer my bamboo sticks, and I do throw a Chubby Chernoble or two on occasion when the hoppers are hot. For me tho' this would be sort of like chummin' at a cost of $20 bucks for 2 oz. I guess there's a different line that each individual person doesn't cross. Everyone's gotta do what they gotta do and I have no problem with that.

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from buckhunter wrote 42 weeks 3 days ago

Deet, Don't go out of your way. I was just thinking out loud. I made a quick visit to the University of Georgia a few weeks ago and was given a grand tour of the whitetail research facility by our own bioguy01. He lives just down the street from my daughter and is a researcher at the facility. UV light was one of the subjects we talked about. I was sorta prodding bioguy01 to chime in.

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from fflutterffly wrote 42 weeks 3 days ago

I'm starting to feel like a bait fisherman!!!!

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from Leslie Hawkinson wrote 41 weeks 5 days ago

Could someone send me an email on how/where to order this U/V spray. Tried the Westwater Products site, nothing on there. Tried their dealers websites, searched for U/V spray, no results. Help!

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from buckhunter wrote 42 weeks 4 days ago

For years UV has been a subject of debate among deer hunters. Studies show that the human eye filters 99% of UV light which enters the eye. This filter does not exist in the eye of a whitetail deer. With no filter, deer can see the ultraviolet light better in low light conditions. There is some advantage to reducing UV light on your hunting clothes to stay concealed.

I like the idea of enhancing UV as an attractant but my question is this, do trout see UV like deer, or not see UV like humans?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Rhythm Rider wrote 42 weeks 4 days ago

In the voice of Cousin Eddie from Christmas Vacation:

"Don't go puttin' none of that stuff on my fly Clark.....my fly just won't look right."

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from B Mogren wrote 42 weeks 4 days ago

Without appearing overly resistant to change or stuck in the past, in my view this product (while tehnologically innovative)is for those who place the only value of going fishing on numbers. To be a good all around fisherman one needs knowledge of habitat, weather, food sources which are among the many factors which enhance knowledge of fish and their habits as well as the environment we live in. Why not just use an underwater camera to locate fish and then employ a gill net...saves time and requires limited knowledge and skill.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 42 weeks 3 days ago

Walleyes have large retinas and their eyes glow at night, similar to whitetail deer. Whitetail are UV sensitive or can recognize UV light in low light conditions. UV light is the part of the spectrum not visible to the human eye. I can only guess walleye are also UV sensitive. In which case this may be good for walleye fishing.

This is only a guess. I am sure there are others who know more about this than I do.

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from kirkdeeter wrote 42 weeks 3 days ago

buck, I'm looking into your questions, because I don't know. I'll be back on those.

B. Mogren, that's a completely fair and reasonable question to ask, and I'm not sure there really is an answer other than to say, if it's within the rules, it's up to the individual angler. I mean... the real purist will tell you that a fly made of foam isn't really a fly. Do you need aircraft-grade graphite to make a rod to cast that fly? Where does it stop? The base appeal of fly fishing is using fairly primitive tools to trick instinct, but that's evolved into quite the science indeed.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from B Mogren wrote 42 weeks 3 days ago

Kirk...I know and agree wholeheartedly. I do own graphite rods although I also own and actually prefer my bamboo sticks, and I do throw a Chubby Chernoble or two on occasion when the hoppers are hot. For me tho' this would be sort of like chummin' at a cost of $20 bucks for 2 oz. I guess there's a different line that each individual person doesn't cross. Everyone's gotta do what they gotta do and I have no problem with that.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 42 weeks 3 days ago

Deet, Don't go out of your way. I was just thinking out loud. I made a quick visit to the University of Georgia a few weeks ago and was given a grand tour of the whitetail research facility by our own bioguy01. He lives just down the street from my daughter and is a researcher at the facility. UV light was one of the subjects we talked about. I was sorta prodding bioguy01 to chime in.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from fflutterffly wrote 42 weeks 3 days ago

I'm starting to feel like a bait fisherman!!!!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Leslie Hawkinson wrote 41 weeks 5 days ago

Could someone send me an email on how/where to order this U/V spray. Tried the Westwater Products site, nothing on there. Tried their dealers websites, searched for U/V spray, no results. Help!

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All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.